Resources

In order to help educators and parents reinforce the concepts taught in the Peace of Mind Curriculum, we offer here some additional information on three key concepts: Heartfulness, the Hand Model of the Brain, and the Negativity Bias. Let us know what else you have questions about, and we’ll do our best to respond!

Heartfulness

Children learn about and practice Heartfulness in all of the Peace of Mind Core Curricula, and this practice is taught and modeled in our Peace of Mind storybook, Henry is Kind.

What is Heartfulness? Heartfulness, a kind of loving-kindness or compassion meditation, is a simple but powerful mindfulness practice that allows us to develop our capacity for empathy and to connect with others. You might practice sending kind wishes to those you care about, to yourself, or even to someone you may be in conflict with. Sometimes doing heartfulness for someone that you are angry or frustrated with can help you to try to see things from their point of view, to remind yourself that they are a person too with thoughts and feelings and experiences that might be different from your own.

If you are interested in learning more about compassion meditation, you might enjoy the work of respected author and teacher Sharon Salzberg. www.SharonSalzberg.com.

In their groundbreaking book Altered Traits, the highly regarded duo of Richard Davidson and Daniel Goleman identify research studies that meet the highest scientific standards and confirm that: “compassion meditation enhances empathic concern, activates [brain] circuits for good feelings and love, as well as circuits that register the suffering of others, and prepares a person to act when suffering is encountered.”

Emma Seppala, Science Director, Stanford Center For Compassion And Altruism Research And Education and Co-Director Wellness, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, offers a great list of reasons why heartfulness is good for you including the relevant research.

For more information on mindfulness and compassion practice for children and in schools, you might like to explore these resources as well:

The Negativity Bias

Children learn about this concept in the Peace of Mind Core Curriculum for Grades 1 and 2 and for Grades 3 to 5. The Negativity Bias is also the subject of the Peace of Mind Storybook Sergio Sees the Good.

What is the Negativity Bias? The negativity bias is our tendency to focus on and remember painful, embarrassing, or threatening experiences more than positive ones. When Sergio was pricked by a cactus, his brain filed that memory in a “Don’t Forget This” drawer to prevent him from touching a cactus again. The negativity bias is helpful that way; it protects us from danger. But have you ever focused so much on a negative experience—perhaps a minor humiliation like spilling your lunch tray as Sergio did—that you’ve been unable to enjoy the good things going on around you for the rest of the day? If you have (and who hasn’t?), you know all about the negativity bias.

Unless we’re in immediate danger, it’s healthier to focus on the positive things in our lives—healthier, but often harder. We remember the good big things like a great trip or a special event, but we tend to forget about the good little things that happen every day. Taking time to notice and appreciate good things allows our brains to capture those memories and file them in a long-term storage drawer right next to the bad memories. The result is that we see our lives more positively—and more realistically.

How can I address my own Negativity Bias, or help my kids address theirs?

Dr. Elizabeth Hoffman, a neuroscientist specializing in child and adolescent brain development, suggests the following resources for adults and older kids interested in learning more about this important concept.